Duplex convenience outlet



May Z, 1943. v. R. DEsPARD DUPLEX CONVENIENCE OUTLET Eiled Feb. 13. 1941 Patented May 25, 1943 DUPLEX CONVENIENCE OUTLET Victor R. Despard, Syracuse, N. Y., assigner to Pass & Seymour, Inc., Solvay Station, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 13, 1941, Serial No. 378,805

8 Claims.

' The present invention relates to convenience outlets and more particularly to convenience outlets of the duplex type adapted to receive one or two attachment plugs for conducting current to portable electric devices.

It is often desirable where duplex convenience outlets are provided to be able to arrange the two outlets on separate circuits either for the sake of conducting current to the same from separate sources of power; with separate feeders; or in order that the outlets .may be independent- :1y controlled. For instance, it is sometimesconvenlent to control one or both from switches. A more common arrangement is to control one from a switch, as for conveniently manipulating a floor lamp at the entrance to a room, and to leave the other outlet directly `connected to a source of power for use with portables, such as vacuum cleaners or the like.

At the present time three general types of -convenience outlets are provided commercially:

first, those with but a single wire terminal or at least permanently connected wire terminals for each side of the line and supplying the contacts of both outlets; second, those having independent.

wire terminals for the contacts of each outlet; and third, those having a common terminal for yone contact of each outlet and a separate terminal for the other contact of each outlet to provide for a common feed on one side and separate feeds on the other.

The manufacturer, jobber, retailer and contractor are all seriously inconvenienced by this multiplicity of devices of the same general type, and it is the intent of the present invention to provide one single form of duplex convenience outlet which will permit use in any of the ways kin which the various separate forms have previouslyV been used without adding to the cost of the device or to its inherent good qualities.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide a duplex convenience outlet lconvertible from common feed to separate feed instheuse of terminal Lplates spaced Vapart vby'an finsulating rib or barrier adapted to .be spanned.

by a spring contact clip fitted between the two adjacent terminal plates and the underlying insulation body from which they are supported.

Another important feature of the invention comprises the arrangement of a barrier between the electrically separate terminal plates on either ,side of a duplex convenience outlet Awhich. is formed integral with the insulation part composing the frame of the outlet and which has lateral fianges overlying the adjacent edgesof the terminal plates to prevent them from being sprung outwardly by the :use of a connector clip inserted between them and the underlying insulating.

Other and further features and objects of the invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the accompanying drawing and following specification,

wherein is disclosed a single -exemplary embodiment of the invention with the understanding that such modifications and additions may be made thereto as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from thel spirit of the invention. z

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a convenience outlet constructed according to the present invention, showing one spring clip in position and -the other in horizontal section;

Figure 2 is aside elevation thereof;

Fgure 3 isa transverse section takenon line 3--3vof yFigure 1,.looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 4 is a .perspectivefview ofi a spring ,c onnector clip adapted to electrically connect .the terminal platesn eitherside of theoutlet.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown at I0 the main body or frame of theoutlet formed of suitable insulating material, preferably one of the synthetic plastics molded to 'provide the ,main or rear portion l2v and the integral partly circular face members 3 suitably perforated as at M for the passage of the blades of a connector plug. These ,faces are spaced apart as at 5 and the upper face of the portion l2 is thereperforated as at i6 to receivea sc rew'whichfsecures the face plate in position ,in the conventional A ,Separate spring contact, not-shown, of lconventional form vis provided foreach of the apertures -|4,1s uitably housed within the hollow block `l2 a-nd'preferably retained in position vby a backing plate, not shown. v l j Each contact spring has preferably formed integral therewith, aA substantially rectangular 'terminal plate I8, the connectingiportion i8v between the terminal plate and the contacts passing through a suitable slot in the insulation to permit the contacts to be within and the terminal plates outside the portion I2. The two terminal plates on each side lie adjacent each other, as seen in Figure 2 and at against the surface of the intermediate side wall, being spaced apart for mechanical and insulation purposes by a rib I9 projecting laterally from this wall and formed integral with the main insulating base. As seen best in Figure 1, this rib may have a semi-cylindrical outer face 20 and is provided with the lateral anges 2l which overlie the contiguous portions of the terminal plates I8, serving to prevent them from moving outwardly away from the insulation base, either under the stress of connected conductors or the pressure of a spring clip later to be described. It will be understood that the terminal-contact assemblies are inserted from the rear of the base so that the terminal plates I8 can readily be passed beneath the overhanging anges. Each terminal -plate is equipped at the top with a turned-up lug 22 serving to position the wire and hold it from springing out beneath the head of screw 23 forming the binding post of the terminal plate.

As just described, the duplex convenience outlet lis of the full separate or independent feed type, there being a separate terminal plate for each set of contact springs. In order that a single conductor may readily feed both springs on one side, provision is made to connect the two adjacent terminal plates together electrically by means of a spring clip 25, such as shown in Figure 4, which includes the tab 26 having depending spring legs 21 spaced apart on one edge thereof and lying generally in a plane at right angles to that of the tab. These legs are suitably bowed as shown at 28 to exert spring pressure when flattened. The space 29 between them is just slightly greater in width than the width of the central portion ofone of the ribs I9 so that these spring legs may straddle this barrier and be pressed down behind or beneath the adjacent edges of the contact terminals I8, as seen in Figures l, 2 and 3, suitable channels 3| being provided in the insulation base to accommodate them.

The remaining portions of the contact plates I8 fit closely againstl the outer surfaces of the insulating base. The spring pressure exerted by the bowed legs 21 against the undersurfaces of the contact plates insures excellent electrical contact, and since the thrust of the springs is resisted by the overhangs 2I on the barrier ribs, the contact plates cannot be pressed away from the base and the electrical contact weakened. It is proposed to sell the devices with the connecting clips assembled so that they, as received, are available for common feed wiring. One or both may be readily removed, either by grasping the tab portion 2B with a pair of pliers or wedging the same upwardly by prying with a screw driver, the insertion of which is facilitated by inclining the upper face of the barrier rib, as shown at 33 in Figure 2.

Thus the device may be used in the same manner as any onel of the three forms now manufactured, partaking of the advantages of each and having none of the disadvantages. It will be understood that the conventional form of mounting means is 'used for securing the outlet in place in a wall box.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. In a duplex convenience outlet, in combination, an insulation base supporting two pairs of spring contacts for engagement by attachment plug blades, a plate electrically connected to each contact and supporting a terminal screw, said plates being arranged in pairs, one on each side of said base, an insulation barrier separating the plates of one pair and an independent spring clip adapted to bridge said barrier and electrically and frictionally engage the plates of a pair independently of said screws to connect them together.

2. In a duplex convenience outlet, in combination, an insulation base supporting two pairs of spring contacts for engagement by attachment plug blades, a wire terminal plate electrically connected to each contact, said plates being arranged in pairs, one on each side of said base, and flat thereagainst, an insulation barrier between the adjacent edges of the plates of one pair and a removable clip having spring legs straddling said barrier and engaging behind the rear faces of said plates to connect them together electrically and to be retained in position thereby,

3. In a duplex convenience outlet, in combination, an insulation base supporting two pairs of spring contacts for engagement by 'attachment plug blades, a wire terminal plate electrically connected to each contact, said plates being arranged in pairs, one on each side' of said base, and flat thereagainst, an insulation barrier between the adjacent edges of the plates of one pair and a removable clip having spring legs straddling said barrier and sprung between the rear faces of said plates and said base.

4. In a duplex convenience outlet, in comblnation, an insulation base supporting two pairs of spring contacts for engagement by attachment plug blades, a wire terminal plate electrically connected to each contact, said plates being arranged in pairs, one on each side of said base, an insulation barrier extending from said base, separating the adjacent edges of the plates of one pair, said barrier having flanges overhanging the faces of the separated plates to hold them Iagainst said base and a removable connector element adapted to straddle said barrier and having spring legs arranged to engage beneath said plates and be frictionally positioned between them and the base.

5. A duplex convenience outlet of the type described in claim 4 in which the barrier is formed as an integral part of the base.

6. In a duplex convenience outlet, in combination, an insulation base supporting two pairs of spring contacts for engagement by attachment plug blades, a wire terminal plate electrically connected to each contact, said plates being arranged in pairs, one on each side of said base, an insulation barrier extending from said base, separating the adjacent edges of the plates of one pair, saidbarrier having flanges overhanging the faces of the separated plates to hold them against said base, said base having a groove parallel to said barrier beneath each plate, a connector element having spring legs adapted to straddle said barrier, be received one in each groove and contact the re'ar faces of said plates to connect them electrically.

'7. In a duplex convenience outlet, in combination, an insulation base supporting two pairs of spring contacts for engagement by attachment plug blades, a wire terminal plate electrically connected to each contact, said plates being karranged in pairs, one on each side' of said base, an insulation barrier extending from said base, separating the adjacent edges of the plates of one pair, said barrier having flanges overhanging the faces of the separated plates to hold them against said base, said base having a groove parallel to said barrier beneath each plate, a con- -nector element having spring legs adapted to straddle said barrier, be received one in each groove and contact the rear faces of said plates to connect them electrically, said legs being connected by a tab normally overlying one end of said barrier, said end being inclined for the reception of a tool to pry the connector loose when not required.

VICTOR R. DESPARD. 

